Facts: Mr Mani and Mr Tasci had limited mobility as a result of physical disability and Mr J was seriously ill as a result of advanced HIV+: All three needed help with domestic tasks and were destitute asylum-seekers.

Judgment: the claimants’ needs did not arise solely as a result of destitution so that, because regulations 6 and 23 of the Asylum Support Regulations 2000 required the local authorities to disregard the availability of Home Office support, they were under a duty to provide the claimants with residential accommodation under section 21 of the National Assistance Act 1948.